A World Heritage Site is defined as “a territory that is a global cultural heritage of exceptional universal value, to be protected, preserved, and handed down to future generations”.

The Prosecco Hills are registered under the category of ‘cultural landscape’; “a visible result of constantly evolving interaction between man and the environment”. Innocente Nardi, president of the Consortium for the Protection of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG, said: “We are delighted at the declaration of the hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene as a World Heritage Site. The producers that make up the Consortium of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG have been at the heart of UNESCO nomination.” Nardi led the special committee formed to manage the application to UNESCO, which took ten years to complete.

Le Colline del Prosecco di Conegliano e Valdobbiadene

“Located in north-eastern Italy, the site includes part of the vinegrowing landscape of the Prosecco wine production area. The landscape is characterized by ‘hogback’ hills, ciglioni – small plots of vines on narrow grassy terraces – forests, small villages and farmland. For centuries, this rugged terrain has been shaped and adapted by man. Since the 17^th century, the use of ciglioni has created a particular chequerboard landscape consisting of rows of vines parallel and vertical to the slopes. In the 19^th century, the bellussera technique of training the vines contributed to the aesthetic characteristics of the landscape.: UNESCO

Other UNESCO cultural landscapes  include the Italian Piemontese wine regions of Langhe Roero and Monferrato, Portugal’s Alto Douro, Tokaj in Hungary and the French wine regions of Champagne, Burgundy and Saint-Emilion.

For more beautiful pictures of this magnificent Vino con Vista Region visit: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1571/gallery/

For a comprehensive list of Italy’s UNESCO sites visit: http://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/it

That’s my Italy bucket list. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.